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Trott not shocked at KP leaving ODIs

Jonathan Trott said he had not been taken unawares by his fellow South Africa-born batsman\'s decision.

Birmingham: Jonathan Trott is saddened but far from shocked at fellow England batsman Kevin Pietersen's decision to retire from limited overs international cricket.

Pietersen had indicated he wanted to help England retain the World Twenty20 title he did so much to help them win in the Caribbean two years ago when they defend their title in Sri Lanka later this year.

But with England insisting players must make themselves available for both 50-over one-day internationals and Twenty20 contests – in part to ensure there isn't a mass exodus from the longer format in an increasingly packed schedule – Pietersen announced his retirement from all limited overs contests last week.

It means England will be without one of their best batsmen in all but Test cricket from now on, despite it being just over three months ago since he scored back-to-back hundreds in England's 4-0 one-day series sweep of Pakistan.

But as Trott prepared to play alongside Pietersen at Edgbaston, where England will try to complete a 3-0 Test series win over the West Indies, he said he had not been taken unawares by his fellow South Africa-born batsman's decision. "It wasn't a huge surprise," Trott said on Tuesday. "You can understand it in a way, but it's a huge disappointment as well," added Trott. "Kev's [Pietersen] his own guy and has to make his own decisions. The team fully supports his decision. Whatever he decides to do with his cricketing career is fine."

Missing players has become something of a theme heading into the third Test, due to start on Thursday, with England controversially resting spearhead seamer James Anderson ahead of a home series against South Africa where Trott and his team-mates will put their world number one Test ranking on the line. "It's happened in the past, and probably will in the future as well - with the schedule getting busier and busier," said Trott. "It's only right that these things happen.

"Jimmy would have liked to have played, and quite rightly. He's the spearhead of our bowling attack, and you can understand that he will probably be a little bit disappointed. But with the bowlers and their heavy workload, it's going to happen from time to time. It's not as if you're giving away international caps. We have guys who are vying to play, and whoever takes his place should do a great job."

As for the prospect of completing a Test series whitewash, Trott – who play at Edgbaston for Midlands county Warwickshire – said: "We've got the opportunity to win 3-0, so it's really important we drive home that advantage and don't take our foot off the gas."